Update: BREAKING: Two dead, 37 injured in Lafia gas explosion
Two persons have been confirmed dead, including an infant and 37 others injured on Monday after a filling station exploded in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.
The incident occurred when the gas station owners attempted to refill their commercial cylinder.
Many others were severely burnt in the incident as efforts to quench the fire proved abortive.
The Nasarawa State Government on Monday expressed shock and sadness over the unfortunate accident
The Deputy Governor, Mr Silas Agara, said during on-the-spot assessment visit to the scene of the incident that the government would take the necessary steps to unravel the cause of the accident.
Agara, accompanied by the Commissioner of Police, Yahaya Bello, and Chairman, Lafia Local Government, Malam Aminu Muazu, described the explosion which occurred at Monaco Gas plant within the premises of Natson Filling station on Jos Road, Lafia, as most unfortunate.
Another wreckage of the explosion
He expressed his condolences and sympathy to the victims on behalf of Governor Umaru Al-Makura and assured the people of the government’s readiness to respond to the emergency and ensure a thorough investigation of the incident.
Agara applauded the security and emergency response teams for their quick intervention and advised the public to stay away from the scene to allow relevant agencies to carry out their investigation into the matter.
He and his entourage later visited the 37 victims with various degrees of injuries at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia.
On the casualty figure, Mrs Faustina Alegbe, the Federal Road Safety Corps Sector Commander in the State, told NAN that two persons died while 37 people were injured.
“So far, 37 people are receiving treatment in the hospital but two have been confirmed dead by the doctors.
“Tomorrow, we will go back to the hospital to do an update. But I can tell you that I was in the hospital myself to do a physical count and as of now, 37 are receiving treatment with two dead,” she said.
As at the time of this reports, eight bodies have been recovered while many are still trapped in the fire.
Details later…
